Leather-stretching machine.



- Patented lune I9, |900.- J. BROOKS.

LEATHER STRETCHING MACHINE.

(Applieion led'reb. 24, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Sheet -I.

(No Model.)

:321mm n IHEII' IIEII-Illjll IL l el ./NVENIOR. fon .B70071663 a 'l ATTOR ma News evans co, Waremme. asumarom No. 651,820.- Patented lune I9, |900.

J. BROOKS.

LEATHER STBETCHING MACHINE.

(Application med Feb. 24, 190e.) 4 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

JN VEN TOR.

we 'Nunms PETERS ou, Novo-mwa.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

No. 65|,820. i Patented June I9, |900..-

J. BROOKS.

LEATHER STRETCHING MACHINE.

` (Appucmon med Feb. 24, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INI/ENTOR.

BY Janzz raaaal' ATTORNEY.

No. 65|,a2o. Patented :une I9, |900.

.1. nooKs. LEATHER STBETCHING MACHINE.

(Application Bled Feb. 24, 1900.) 4 (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

AnoRNEK 1 Noms Patins co., mcrauwo, mmmcrou, l:4 c.

No. 65|,820. Patented lune I9, |900. J. BROOKS.

. LEATHER STBETCHING MACHINE.

(Application led Feb, 24, 1900.)

(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

. WITNESSES IN VENT 0R.

l Jizniaafa, \Ir g yQ/fa i AHORNEY.

me ohms PErERs co. PHorauwo wAsHmcwu n c UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JOHN BROOKS, or oONOOED, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

LEATHER-srRETol-HNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,820, dated June 19, 1900.

Appiicaion fired ramm- 24, 1900. sean No. 6.404. montati.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Meri-imac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain Improve ments in Machines for Stretching Leather for Belting, of which the followingis a specification.

In the manufacture of leather belting the hide is first cut into strips of the required width, which are then stretched longitudinally in a suitable machine provided with two pairs of straight jaws which are clamped upon the opposite ends of the strip and then forced apart by suitable mechanism to stretch the same. The shoulder end of the strip is generally straight in the direction of its width, enabling the jaws to grip it close to its edge without waste,lwhile the butt-end is of angular shape, and consequently the other pair of jaws in grippingr this uneven end of the stripacross its full width, as is necessary,i leave an uneven piece of leather in the rear of the line of contact with said jaws, which piece was marred by the jaws, and as it could not be stretched was consequently wasted. To avoid this waste of leather and enable the strip to be gripped close along the edge of its uneven end without regard to its angular shape, which varies in'dierent pieces, is the Object of my invention,which consists in jointing the jaws which hold the uneven end4 of the strip so that they may be adjusted at any desired angle to each other to conform ap-A proximately to the shape of the end ofv the strip, which can thus be gripped close to its edge,fas required to avoid unnecessary waste, the jaws being provided with suitable means whereby they are held in their adjusted pO- tions against the strain to which they are subjected in the operation of stretching the leather.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of a leather-stretching frame or machine-having my improved stretcherplank with its leather-holding jaws Ain place thereon. Fig. 2 vis a plan of the stretcherframe with the stretcher-plank removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the stretcher-plank audits leather-holding jaws. Fig. 4 is a plan of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse Vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig.1 looking toward the rear jaws. Fig. 6-is an end elevation 4of the rear leather-holding jaws shown in Fig. `5. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the front end of the `machine shown in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 8 8 of Fig. f4. Y Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan ofaportion of the stretcher-planks, showing the front jointed leather-holding jaws arranged at an angle to 'correspond with the shape of the uneven or angular end of the strip of leather to be stretched. Fig. l0 is an elevation of the front jaws with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 9. Fig. ll is an enlarged section on the line ll 1l of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an enlarged section on the line 12 l2 of Fig. 9.

In the said drawings, A represent-s a leatherstretching frame such as is usually employed rin the operation of stretching strips of leather to be made into belting. This frame A is provided On its top, on the right-hand side of the center, with a heavy cast-iron plate or table B, which slides horizontally in suitable guide` ways in said frame and is provided along its center with a series of rectangular apertures hfor the reception of a hook c, Fig. 3, projecting from the under side of the removable stretcher-plank D, upon which is placed the wetstrip of leather to be stretched. On this plank D are mounted the rear leather-holding jaws E, the lower member or base d of which is provided with an oblong horizontal opening 20, Fig. 5, for the reception of the plank D, which is free to slide therethrough when said jaws E are held stationary by the lower member dV abutting against the vertical faces of projections 21,1ising from castings 15, secured to the upper side pieces of the stretcher-frame A, as shown in Fig. l. The opening 20 is surrounded at both ends by a tubular boxing or flange 20a, which holds the jaw E from rocking on the plank D, while permitting a sliding movement of the plank, and 2Ob represents strengthening-ribs extending from the ends of the boxing 20a to the outer vends of jaw member d. The upper member f of the jaws E is held in place in line with the lower member d by links g g, which embrace the ends of the jaws, the upper jaw being forced down against the resistance of springs 22 to grip the 4straight end of the leather strip close to its edge by means of wedges 23, which are driven in between the Vlinks g g and the top IOO of the member f, the latter having guidegrooves h to receive tenons on the under sides of the wedges. The springs 22 are mounted attheir lower ends in sockets 22a, formed in the ends of the lower member d, and the upper member rests on these springs. The eX- uct manner of mounting these springs is that shown in Fig. 8 for the springs 40.

To the front end of the stretcher-plank D are firmly secured a pair of jointed leatherholding jaws G, which are made adjustable, as hereinafter more fully described, to adapt them to grip the angular or uneven endof the leather strip to be stretched, said strip when held between the jaws E and G being stretched by the movement ofv the plank D to the right through the opening 2O of thelower member d of the jaws E, 'which movementis produced by a corresponding movement of the sliding table B, with which the said plank is connected through the medium of'the hook c, which is in engagement with one of the apertures b of the said sliding table. The table 13 is actuated by a toggle H, one arm of which is pivoted to the frame A at 24, Fig.'1, while the other end is pivoted to the sliding table B at 25, said toggle being operated by chains 26, which are connected with the horizontal shaft I, having its bearings in the frame A and provided at one end with a ratchet- Wheel 27 which is engaged bya hook-shaped pawl 28 on a hand-lever K, pivoted on the end of the shaft I outside the framework, a

retaining-pawl 30,engagingthe ratchet-wheel 27, serving to prevent the backwardmovement of the table B as it is advanced by the lever. As the plank D slides through the aperture 2O of the rear jaws E in the direction ofthe arrow, Fig. 1, during the operation of stretching the leather it is held from returning by a pawl 31, which is pivoted to the lowerY member or based of the rear jaws E and engages a longitudinal ratchet-bart, extending along the cent-er of the plank, as shown in Fig. 4, the `strip of leather being thus securely held while being stretched between the front and rear jaws and enabling the plank, with the strip of stretched leather thereon, to be lifted o the stretcher-frame A afterk the toggle H has been released and set away to re.- main until the str ip has become dry. Other stretcher-planks may then be successively placed on the stretcher-frame A and operated 'toA stretch other strips in the same manner as above described.

VThe construction ofthe front jointed jaws G and the vmechanism for holding the same in Yposition' when adjusted and to which my invention particularly relates will now be described. Y

The upper and lower members m n of the front jaws G are each composed of two parts, having interlocking knuckles at their inner ends connected together by a vertical pin to form a hinged joint, as shown particularly in Figs. 7,k 8,V 9, and 10,fthe connecting-pin 35 of the lowerjawnpassing through the stretcherplank D, to which said jaw is thus securely fastened. The plank D passes through-a horizontal aperture 36, Fig. 8, formed one-half in each of the two portions of the lower jaw n, said aperture 36 being of greater length than the width of the plank to permit of the movement of the two portions of the jaw on their pivot-pin, as shown in Fig. 9. The upper member m is held in line with the lower membernJ by linksp p, embracing the ends of said members, and a link q, embracing lugs 3S 39, projecting from said jaws Ynear the hinged joint, as shown inV Figs. 9, 10, and 1l, the upper member being forced down against the resistance of springs 40 41 to cause the jaws to grip the leather by means of wedges 42, driven in between the links and the top of the member m, the latter having guide-grooves 43 to receive tenons on the under sides of the wedges. The springs 40 are seated in sockets 40a, formed in the ends of the lower jaw members n fn., and the upper jaw members m fm have `depending projections m m', which enter the upper ends of said springs, as shown in Fig. S, and so, also, with regard to the springs 22 of the jawE. The middle spring 41 of the jaw G is mounted on a rod 41a, seated at its ends in sockets'formed in the adjacent sides of the two lugs 38 39, as shown in- Fig. 11. The-se springs 40 41, rod 41, linksp g, wedges 42, and brace t serve also to connect the upper and lower members of the jaw G together. The jaw members m rn, and f d are provided on their adjacent faces with the usual vtongues and grooves to cause them to firmly bite andbold the skins. The stretching strain at the jaw G is received on the pivot-pin 35 and the upper member of the jaw is braced against said strain by the brace t, which engages the upper end of the upper pin 44, as will now be described.

t is an angle-brace having anV eyeat its upper end iitting over the upper end of the connecting-pin 44 of the upper jaw member m, said brace extending down under the front end of the plank D, to which it is firmly bolted, whereby the jaw m is held securely at the joint Vand enabled to resist the strain to which it is subjected.,` Y

To the'outer end of each of the two parts of theV lower jaw member m is pivoted Va pawl arm or brace 45, the free pointed end of which to the edge of the stretcher-plank D, as shown IOO IIO

in Figs. l, 3, 4, and. 9, thereby enabling the jointed jaws to maintain their position when adjusted to resist the strain to which they are subjected in the operation of stretching the strip of leather. By thus-jointing the jaws G it will be obvious that they can be adjusted at any required angle to each other to enable them to grip the uneven or angular end of astrip of leather close to its edge, the pawl arms or braces 45 engaging the proper teeth of the ratchet-bars 46r to hold them in their adjusted positions while the leather is being stretched, a -material saving being thus effected, as the only portion of the leather remaining unstretched and of no use is that actually gripped by the jaws. If it should be desired to stretchastrip of leather havingbo th of its ends straight, the jointed jaws can be set to form a straight line, as shown in Fig. 4,

the jaws being thus adapted to grip a straight or an angular end, as may be required.

It will be seen that as the members of the jaw Gr are pivoted together at their inner ends the working faces of the jaw are continuous and grasp the skin at the middle of the jaw as well as therebeyond.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a leather-stretching machine, a pair of gripping-jaws, the upper and lower members of which are in two parts, each separately hinged together at their inner ends to form continuous sectional'clamping-surfaces, and allow the hide to enter without cutting it, and means for holding said jaws in their adj usted positions.

2. The combination with the `machineframe, the longitudinally-movable stretching plank or frame, and means for operating said plank or frame, of a rear pair of normallystationary gripping-jaws through which said plank or frame slides and removable therewith from the machine-frame, a pair of sectional hinged gripping-jaws mounted on the forward end of the plank, and means for adj usting the jaws.

3. The combination with the machineframe, the longitudinally-movable stretching plank or frame, and means for operating said plank or frame, of a rear pair of normallystationary gripping-jaws through which said plank or frame slides and removable therewith from the machine-frame; a forward pair of gripping-jaws formed of upper and lower sectional members hinged together at their inner ends and there secured to the plank or frame at the middle thereof, and means for holding the outer ends of the jaw-sections in their adjusted positions.

4. The combination with the machinestretching plank or frame, pawls mounted on the outer ends of the said sections, and racks on the plank engaged by said pawl.

5. In a leather-stretching machine,the combination with the stretcher-plank, of a pair of leather-gripping jaws, the upper and lower membersof which are each composed of two parts hinged together, whereby they may be adjusted at an angle to each other to conform to the angular shape of the end of a strip of leather to be gripped thereby, means for closing said jaws upon the leather, a brace extending from the top of the upper jaw member at the joint to the stretcher-plank, and pawl arms or braces pivoted to the two portions of the lower jaw member and adapted to engage teeth at the edges of the plank and thereby hold the jaws in their adjusted positions against the strain produced in stretching the leather, substantially as described.

6. In a leather-stretching machine,the combination with a pair of leather-gripping jaws, the upper and lower members of which are each composed of two parts hinged together to adapt them to be adjusted at an angle to each other, said jaws being provided at the ends with connecting links and wedges for closing said ends, of lugs projecting from the upper and lower members near the hingejoint, a link embracing said lugs, and a wed ge cooperating with said link for closing said jaws at the joint, substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 19th day of February, A. D. 1900.

JOHN BROOKS.

In presence of- '.I. F. I-IARRIMAN, EDMUND S. Cook. 

